Working from Your iPad: How to Fix Your Posture with ZUGU
Due to the convenience of iPads, their use is on the rise amongst professionals, students, artists, and people who enjoy leisure activities. Continuous use of iPads in sedentary positions can be too much of a good thing, and we often forget about the importance of iPad ergonomics and maintaining a healthy posture.
If you’ve ever used your iPad in a seemingly comfortable position that, in the end, caused you to hunch over, slouch, or contort then you are putting your muscles and joints at risk of strains and overuse injuries.
While it’s key to be mindful of how iPad use affects your posture, let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water. The best way to fix your posture as well as eliminate aches and pains whilst using an iPad all boils down to positioning.
Want to learn ways to get the most out of your ZUGU iPad case? Or read on to learn ways to get the most out of our iPad posture support accessories at ZUGU.
Ergonomic Pitfalls of iPads
iPads, despite their portability and versatility, come with their own set of usability challenges. They can become an ergonomic nightmare when not used carefully. If you don’t take proper consideration of your body's needs while on your iPad, it can lead to various musculoskeletal issues, affecting not only your posture but your overall wellbeing.
Awkward Viewing Angles
One drawback to iPads is how users naturally position them at awkward viewing angles. The portability of the iPad quickly becomes a liability because positioning puts significant pressure on the neck and shoulders, creating a cascade of potential discomfort throughout the body.
Sedentary Positions
The prolonged use of iPads in sedentary positions is another downside. Even if your posture and iPad position are in alignment, sitting in any fixed position for too long can still lead to discomfort, possibly causing other issues such as strains and numbness in the lower back, lower body, and feet which affect not only our posture but ability to walk properly.
Taking Breaks
Taking breaks to walk around, stretch, or change position are essential aspects of healthy iPad use that often get overlooked in ergonomic discussions. Being sedentary for too long can lead to muscle fatigue and stiffness.
Your wellness goal shouldn’t only be about fixing your posture when in static positions but maintaining periods of mobility while using your iPad.
Incorporate these ergonomic tips for iPad use with your ZUGU iPad case to enjoy the benefits of touchscreen technology while protecting your physical wellbeing.
Tech-Related Injuries That Affect Posture
It's recommended that individuals with chronic pain and disabilities using technology use well-designed positioning tools to enhance functionality and improve quality of life.
Let’s identify the four main injuries people suffer from when using technology and some practical ergonomic tips for desktop computer, smartphone, and iPad use.
1. Computer Hunch
Not using the best posture for working on an iPad can result in chronic pain among white-collar professionals, students, gamers, and casual iPad users who spend a great deal of time slouching in chairs or hunched over computer screens.
Too much hunching creates a domino effect in the body. First, the chest muscles tighten, pulling the shoulders inward and the spine forward, while the upper back muscles lengthen.
The effects of computer hunch radiate throughout the body, causing pain in the neck, lower back, arms, and legs. The more you hunch over your device, the more the muscles want to work in this counterproductive way, worsening posture over time.
2. Tech Neck
You’re probably familiar with the condition tech neck, perhaps from personal experience, but also because it makes headlines as a fixture in pop culture discussions about electronics usage. This lighthearted and trendy name doesn’t do this musculoskeletal disorder justice because it is a serious injury that occurs as a result of awkward neck postures when we use our iPads for long periods of time without posture support accessories.
The muscles in the back of the neck must constantly contract to hold up the head—which weighs between 10 to 12 pounds, by the way. The more you look down at your screen, the harder these muscles work to support your head, and they can become fatigued and sore. If left untreated, tech neck can cause muscle damage, spine misalignment, joint inflammation, pinched nerves, and herniated discs.
3. iPad Shoulder
When it comes to posture, iPad users are at a disadvantage when compared to desktop computer users. iPad users typically sit in a more flexed posture due to the low angle at which they view their screen. This may lead to significant shoulder discomfort over time.
Using an iPad stand for better posture is a simple solution to preventing iPad shoulder that is often overlooked. iPad stands are sturdy and allow you to place your iPad at eye level on a firm surface such as a table or desk.
Use a ZUGU case to help maintain better shoulder alignment and significantly improve your posture.
4. Swiper’s Thumb & iPad Hand
If you’ve ever experienced sharp pains in your fingers, hands, or wrists from constantly holding your iPad in one hand while using your index finger on the other hand to write messages or scroll, then you have probably had a run-in with De Quervain's tenosynovitis. Taking technology breaks and doing hand stretching exercises will help the pain subside, but frequent trips to the ER will reveal this to be swiper's thumb (also called texting thumb) and iPad hand.
This injury develops from constant iPad interaction using your hands. When the sheath surrounding the thumb's tendon becomes inflamed, you can expect swelling and stiffness around the base of the thumb.
The main culprits of swiper’s thumb and iPad hand are the repetitive motions of holding, scrolling, and texting on iPads, smartphones, and tablets. It’s best to hold your iPad for no longer than five minutes at a time. However, extended periods of holding your iPad can strain not only the wrists but also the hands, thumbs, and forearms. Let the ZUGU iPad case do all the heavy lifting and enjoy hands-free use.
Using iPad Posture Support Accessories in Various Settings
Apple’s iPads are wonderfully portable. You probably take your iPad with you everywhere, so it’s good to know how to use your iPad comfortably no matter where you are in the world.
Workspaces
Sitting up straight when working at a desk has been touted as the miracle cure for tech-related posture issues, but it’s time to put that idea to rest. This position often leads to neck and shoulder pain when using an iPad. For lumbar support, leaning back 25-30 degrees is actually the best posture for working on your iPad at your desk.
The functionality of your neck is to support the weight of your head. When you sit up straight at a 90-degree angle, it puts extra strain on the muscles in your neck and back, which forces them to contract. Over time, the neck muscles become worn out and overworked, putting your spinal health at risk.
Ergonomic tips for iPad use like incorporating movement into static positions by reclining back into your chair and using one of ZUGU’s many iPad cases designed with adjustable angles. This modern design feature gives your body permission to work smarter and not harder, facilitating this working position while you sit back in the sweet spot.
Portable Use
Taking opportunities for hands-free use of your iPad gives you improved dexterity and posture. An iPad can weigh anywhere between one to one and a half pounds, which can put a lot of strain on your hands and wrists. Pairing this with being confined in a static position at your desk, office workspace, or cubicle worsens the effects.
If you’re looking for an iPad case upgrade that allows you to stay in motion while using your iPad, consider investing in one of our magnetic iPad cases for the ultimate hands-free experience that allows you to stay in motion while using your iPad.
Magnetic cases allow you to attach your iPad to a metal filing cabinet while standing at your workspace so that it is perfectly positioned at eye level. Consider mounting it on a metal whiteboard during your next presentation, standing tall and proud while your colleagues marvel at both your perfect posture and your tech-savvy prowess. The magnetic feature is like having an assistant holding your iPad exactly where you need it.
Traveling
If a business class or first-class plane ticket is not in the cards for you, then traveling can negatively affect your posture. Make the most out of your space by using an iPad case as a personal ergonomic travel tool. To prevent damage to your iPad during flight turbulence, ensure that the tray table is locked before setting up your iPad.
Our cases possess a modern design feature with multiple viewing angles that let you adjust your iPad so it can stand higher, putting you in a position for better posture, whether you're in an aisle, middle, or coveted window seat.
Tech Accessories That Promote Wellness
ZUGU iPad cases have so much to offer. They combine stability, adjustability, and functionality into one sleek package, ensuring your iPad enhances rather than compromises your posture. Free yourself from awkward angles and uncomfortable positions that limit how you use your iPad and ultimately set you up for an appointment with a chiropractor.
Convert any area to an ergonomic workspace with our iPad posture support accessories that offer flexible viewing angles and magnetic mounting options, keeping you comfortable wherever life takes you.